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I have a list of replacement rules like

list˘of˘replacement˘rules = {a -> 1, b -> 2, c -> 3}

and I want to filter all the elements where ‘b’ is replaced by using Cases[] and a search pattern.
The following code does not work:

Cases[list˘of˘replacement˘rules, b -> _]

The result is {}.
How should the pattern be defined in order to get the result {b->2}?

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    $\begingroup$ Cases[{a -> 1, b -> 2, c -> 3}, HoldPattern[Rule[b, _]]] $\endgroup$
    – Artes
    Commented Nov 17, 2014 at 14:14
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    $\begingroup$ This question was “put on hold” because it appears to be a simple mistake. But I don’t think so. I truly searched the documentation for a solution before posting this question. You just have to know about the existence of certain keywords like HoldPattern[] or PatternSequence[]. Otherwise you would not find them in the documentation. $\endgroup$
    – Gerhard Wonner
    Commented Nov 19, 2014 at 13:19
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    $\begingroup$ Very closely related but not about patterns: (69299) $\endgroup$
    – Mr.Wizard
    Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 10:32

2 Answers 2

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$\begingroup$ 
rules = {a -> 1, b -> 2, c -> 3};

FilterRules[rules, b]
(* {b -> 2} )*

or

Cases[{a -> 1, b -> 2, c -> 3}, PatternSequence[b -> _]]
(* {b -> 2} )*
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  • $\begingroup$ FilterRules is particularly practical since you may also use it with a rule b->something, even blank as second argument or with a list of such rules. In this case, it does not care for the rhs of those rules. $\endgroup$
    – Adalbert Hanßen
    Commented Apr 11, 2016 at 18:11
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Cases handles an expression with head Rule specially, providing replacement functionality, therefore you need to keep the literal head of your pattern from being Rule. Examples:

Cases[rules, _[b, _]]
Cases[rules, x : (b -> _)]
Cases[rules, HoldPattern[b -> _]]
Cases[rules, Verbatim[Rule][b, _]]

All evaluate to {b -> 2}. None of the patterns have the head Rule:

Head /@ {_[b, _], x : (b -> _), HoldPattern[b -> _], Verbatim[Rule][b, _]}

{_, Pattern, HoldPattern, Verbatim[Rule]}

Of course for this particular operation FilterRules is more direct.

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  • $\begingroup$ Isn't this a better place? And isn't this topic a duplicate? 69299. Moreover, what's up with @kglr 's memory? :) $\endgroup$
    – Kuba
    Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 10:25
  • $\begingroup$ @Kuba It would be nice if people would close things as duplicates when they are duplicates, rather than "easily found in the documentation." I am starting to think that even having that close reason is a mistake, as the same simple questions are asked repeatedly anyway. In this case I saw a closed question, noted the OP's comment, and agreed. $\endgroup$
    – Mr.Wizard
    Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 10:28
  • $\begingroup$ @Kuba No, wait x 2. (lol) That one is about Select and this is about Cases, and while kglr answered both with an alternative the direct answer is different. I am going to leave this open after all. $\endgroup$
    – Mr.Wizard
    Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 10:30
  • $\begingroup$ I don't mind the order, I'm ususaly trying to link to the best topic so it will be linked in more places. $\endgroup$
    – Kuba
    Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 10:31
  • $\begingroup$ Good point (2nd lol). $\endgroup$
    – Kuba
    Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 10:33

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